Automotive Collision Repair

About the Program

This program offers an Associate in Applied Science degree and several specialized certificate options: collision repair, damage analysis, refinishing and structural repair. The program will prepare you for positions at car and truck dealerships, auto body repair shops and other employers.

Why Choose CLC?

Our courses incorporate the training curriculum from I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair and combine solid theory and real-world problem solving. The program is Gold Class Certified by I-CAR, and it is Master Certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation Inc. (NATEF).

What Students Say

Students value the program’s hands-on approach:

"The teachers have a lot of hands-on experience, and the hands-on practice makes you learn. The book work is important, but until you do it, you won't know how auto body repair is done."Elvin Escobar, 2010 graduate

"My passion is working with cars. I started this program as a hobby, but now I want to do it as a career. CLC's program has helped me to understand pretty much everything about automotive collision repair."J. Carlos Flores

Auto Shop Renovations

In January 2015, the ACR program relocated to a new Auto Body Shop, a $1.6 million renovation of Building 12, which was most recently used for storage. Prior to the opening of CLC’s Technology Building in 2005, the building housed the Automotive Technology program.

The 10,083-square-foot auto lab space includes a large auto-body work area, three new general classrooms, a faculty office, student lounge, restrooms, plus a 2,955 square foot storage mezzanine. The building renovation and most of the equipment for the Auto Body Shop was funded through the college’s Sustainable Master Plan.

A new asphalt paved vehicle staging area accommodating up to eight cars is behind the building. Shop equipment and features include:

Full down draft and semi-down draft paint spray booths

Two paint mixing rooms

Integrated welding booth

Chief frame machine and new mechanical service area and equipment

One paint double prep station

Dust collection system

Vehicle exhaust system

Compressed air system

Previously, the program only offered evening courses because it leased facilities at the Lake County High Schools Technology Campus, which used the same facilities during the day. The number of courses being offered will double, since classes can also be offered in the morning and mid-afternoon.

Michael Hopf

Completed Truck Driver Training Program

“I chose CLC’s Small Business Development Center for guidance and help meeting people who have already gone through the process of starting a business. They are a great team of experts to have on my side.”

Peter Keres

Entrepreneur, owner of Aristaeus

“I became the first community college student accepted as an intern at a newsroom in Erie, Penn., thanks to my experiences on The CLC Chronicle and working with Professor Kupetz. That first internship opened many doors for me.”

Rose Anne De Leon

College of Lake County, ’07; B.A., Northeastern Illinois University ’10, now a copy editor for Shaw Media.

“I am currently working part-time as a paralegal while enrolled as a full-time student in Roosevelt University’s Paralegal Studies program. If I had not received the education I had from CLC, I would not have the part-time job.”

Sally E. Fleissner

A.A.S., Paralegal Studies, ’13; now working on a bachelor’s degree at Roosevelt University.

“CLC was great preparation for transfer to a four-year school. I got comfortable with my abilities, and I was confident when I transferred to NIU. At CLC, I was also able to explore different courses and my interests.”